Doctors broadcasted a surgical procedure in virtual reality for the first time

Dr. Shafi Ahmed just brought surgery even further into the 21st century.

On Thursday, April 14, the British doctor performed the world's first operation broadcast around the world via virtual reality.

The entire operation, which lasted approximately three hours, was live-streamed on Medical Realities website for people without a VR headset. For those who have one, they could download the "VR in OR" app to get immersed in the 360-degree surgery room, right beside Ahmed as he removes cancerous tissue from a male patient's bowel. 

The surgery began at 1 p.m. local time at the Royal London Hospital.

Thanks to a partnership between Barts Health and the 360-degree video company Mativision, the broadcast will serve as a training tool for up-and-coming surgeons and other medical professionals. Rather than endure an expensive flight to a hospital for on-site education, students can tune into VR and still see firsthand how it's done.

"There will be noise, there will be the immersive factor - so that will add different layers of educational value," Ahmed told the Guardian, speaking of the broadcast.

In addition to being a full-time surgeon, Ahmed is the co-founder of the site putting on the broadcast, Medical Realities. Two years ago he live-streamed another surgery using the augmented-reality powers of Google Glass.

Viewers can see firsthand as Ahmed uses the laproscopic arms.

It's also helpful for trainees who won't become surgeons themselves, but want to see what other people in the operating room are doing.And if you really want to get up close on the action, you have that option, too. 

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